part am having success. I have a lot of weight to lose but better to do it slowly with permanent lifestyle changes than to do it fast and gain it all back.

I get super hungry in the middle of the night when I don't eat late. It's 4:50am on a Sunday morning right now - I'm up eating a bowl of cottage cheese because I woke up too hungry to get back to sleep. I'm glad it's working for you though!

I've been experimenting with intermittent fasting, and for the first time I can fast now without feeling famished. I've been reading up on how strength training on an empty stomach compares to training without the fasting. Fasting days are followed by a huge protein packed dinner here, my overall daily calories are still in the 1500 calorie range I would guess, but they're packed into one evening meal. I'm messing around doing that a few days a week and the other days making sure I get 30 grams of protein within the first hour of waking.

So I was 208 on Dec 1. (down from 258 last Jan) - anniversary, Christmas, trips to the beach for New Year and to FL.....

stepped on the scale today - 208.5. Very pleased - and we are soon to join the 21 day vegan challenge at Whole Foods.

Current goal - 185 by mid summer (6 feet tall, large frame, this will finally put me into a healthy BMI!).

That's impressive!

I can't seem to lose weight when there's a change to my routine but I was pretty happy myself that I managed to maintain (within 2 pounds) throughout thanksgiving and christmas. Doing that while traveling's especially hard when you almost have to eat out.

I do fluctuate + - 5-7lbs but I think it has more to do with not getting enough protein and H20 into me.

I'm having a fair bit of trouble with my digestion and I think *KNOW* carbs are my problem and so I am trying to limit them as much as possible. I have a lot of issues, delicate issues that are causing me a fair bit of discomfort all due to the digestion problem.

I have malabsorption issues since having had the Biliopancreatic Diversion w/Duodenal Switch. I went from 302 down to 139 + or - 5-7lbs on any given day.
The common channel, where food is absorbed is only 100cm long and so therefore I don't absorb 90% of the fat I eat and very little fibre. I knew all of this going into it. It's not a problem, I'm well educated in supplementation and receive very good health care and follow ups.

Anyway, just thought I'd check in too


TMI next ..

As I said my biggest issues right now are the digestion problems, leading to the bathroom issues which lead to a LOT of painful hemorroids. My Dr has suggested surgery but I am NOT that much of a masochist ... I'll get back on track hopefully and I'll be sitting more comfortably too.

kesha.

might help at least a little with the bathroom issues. I've been working on my water intake over the last half year. I was having maybe 2 cups of coffee and a cup of water a day, that was about it. Now I'm up to 10-16 cups a day. The only downside is that I'm gonna have to take out a second mortgage to pay for toilet paper, I've never peed so much in my life. (< uh, belated "TMI" goes here).

302 to 139, though - wow. You must feel great.

more than I used to be able too. I get my blood work done every 6 months and I take my supplements almost religiously. I must confess though I REALLY have to do much better in that department.

I TRY really hard to drink enough water. I need about 64 oz a day to feel good and to say 'regular'. I have a colonoscopy scheduled for the 27th of this month and I'm hoping I'm healed by then so I'm not in agony afterwards, or before for that matter.

I think we should buy stock in the TP industry. My husband had ulcerative colitis and had his colon removed. He had an ileostomy for a few months and then surgery to do a take down. Let's just say it's a damned good thing we have two bathrooms here

kesha.